[07/24/08 - 10:18 AM]It's Back-To-School Time as TruTV Takes Viewers Inside One of the Most Frightening Places on Earth: The Principal's OfficeThe original series premieres with two back-to-back episodes on Thursday, August 21 at 9:00/8:00c.

[via press release from truTV]

It's Back-to-School Time as truTV Takes Viewers Inside One of the Most Frightening Places on Earth: THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE

New Half-Hour Original Series Gives Viewers Ringside Seat
To the Daily Drama and Outrageous Excuses School Administrators Face

Fall semester is right around the corner, and it's time for students to start getting ready to head back to the classroom. For some kids, however, it won't be long before they're face to face with a school administrator. From the first bell to the last after-school prank, from minor infractions to suspension-worthy violations, truTV is going be there to capture their moment of truth in the all-new original series THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, premiering with two back-to-back episodes Thursday, Aug. 21, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).

THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE goes behind the scenes with some of America's most dedicated administrators. It provides an all-access look at the fear, paranoia, blatant lies and even humor that unfolds within their offices, from outrageous excuses that go far beyond "The dog ate my homework" to the dread of having one's parents called. Viewers will cringe right along with the students as they witness the various situations these "deans of discipline" handle on a daily basis.

Each half-hour episode introduces principals, their unique governing styles and their schools, while closely following several disciplinary issues as they unfold. Here are few of the administrators featured in the series:

� Assistant Principal Jessie Ballenger of Danbury High School (Conn.) scrutinizes the halls yet even catches delinquent students from her office window. She dispatches her punishments swiftly and firmly, professionally yet with a touch of irony and sarcasm. When one student is caught smoking, Principal Ballenger lectures him and then allows him to take a wellness class in lieu of detention.

� At Booneville High School (Ark.), principal Steve Halter has a different philosophy. When one young man's excuse for tardiness doesn't pass muster (the teen says he was late because he was escorting his girlfriend to her classroom at the other end of the building from his own class) he's given one of two punishment options: corporal punishment in the form of three paddle whacks or Saturday detention.

� Principal Eric Sheninger, a dynamic, funny and compassionate soul from New Milford High School (N.J.), is faced with a star athlete who, during a bus ride to a match, mooned a passing car. The student's mother is called to the office, and the three must discuss the incident, as well as the young man's future on the team � and in the school.

The following are synopses for the series' first two episodes, airing Thursday Aug. 21:

Ep. 101: "Three Licks" � 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

A student named John is so sick of school lunches, he sneaks off campus to grab a bologna sandwich � and is caught red handed by Assistant Principal Ballenger. Meanwhile, Principal Sheninger must deal with a class clown whose out of control booty-dancing and nipple squeezing is distracting his entire class. Finally in Arkansas, a student who's consistently late to class must face an agonizing choice � Saturday detention or three licks from a paddle, wielded by none other than Principal Halter.

Ep. 102: "Puke or Prom!" � 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT)

Francis is so terrified of needles, he's been having trouble getting his physical to Ballenger. If he doesn't submit his physical though, Ballinger won't allow him to attend class. Will he confront his fear? Cody has been caught on more than one occasion photo-shopping pictures of Principal Sheninger into bizarre situations. He insists his creations are a manifestation of his respect for his Principal, but Sheninger is not amused. Jessica is sick, but if she goes home she'll be absent for her in-school suspension which Halter insists will bar her from attending prom. Jessica pleads and cries, but Halter is unmoved. Now Jessica must make the ultimate decision � puke� or prom!?

THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE comes to truTV from Leftfield Pictures, with Brent Montgomery (The Bachelor), Chris Bray (Wife Swap) and Colby Gaines (L.A. Diaries) serving as executive producers. For truTV: Robyn Hutt is executive in charge of production and Jessica Shreeve is Executive Producer.

truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 91 million U.S. households and enjoying more than a year of solid and consistent ratings growth, truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. Among truTV's primetime fan favorites are the original series Forensic Files, Ocean Force, Haunting Evidence, Psychic Detectives, Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege and Justice and Speeders. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name IN SESSION.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.